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Start writing poetry, today

Join us in reading, writing, editing and translating poetry, in year-long courses, short courses, workshops, one-day sessions, seminars, tutorials and every variety of learning in between – in our classrooms, off site and online.

For more information and FAQs about how our courses work, please go to our In-Person Courses, Video Courses and Online Courses pages.

All our Courses

Lighting the World: Writing in Times of Crisis

£240.00 *

Tutor: Shazea Quraishi

Lighting the World: Writing in Times of Crisis

Take poetic action in response to these times of war, displacement and climate emergency.

Start Date: May 20, 2026
End Date: July 29, 2026 ( 71 Days )
Type: Video

Clarity & Vision: Advanced Poetry Workshop with Richard Price

£240.00 *

Tutor: Richard Price

Clarity & Vision: Advanced Poetry Workshop with Richard Price

Join this group for close discussion of your writing with acclaimed poet, Richard Price.

Start Date: May 22, 2026
End Date: July 24, 2026 ( 64 Days )
Type: Video

£100.00 *

Tutor: Elizabeth Parker

This Modern Love

Punk quilting and Petrarch; get romantic as we explore the latest innovations in love poetry.

Start Date: May 28, 2026
End Date: July 9, 2026 ( 43 Days )
Type: Online, Video

Friday Workshop with Natasha Hakimi Zapata

£240.00 *

Tutor: Natasha Hakimi Zapata

Friday Workshop with Natasha Hakimi Zapata

A weekly workshop for developing poets looking to improve their writing through feedback and close reading.

Start Date: May 29, 2026
End Date: July 31, 2026 ( 64 Days )
Type: Video

£100.00 *

Tutor: Kathryn Simmonds

Making a Speech Studio

The speaker speaks; integrating the utterance for poetry that talks.

Start Date: June 1, 2026
End Date: June 28, 2026 ( 28 Days )
Type: Online

Antony Dunn Seminars – Summer Sessions 2026

£150.00 *

Tutor: Antony Dunn

Antony Dunn Seminars – Summer Sessions 2026

Extra Summer sessions of Antony Dunn's intimate monthly seminars.

Start Date: June 2, 2026 6.15pm
End Date: September 10, 2026 ( 101 Days )
Type: Seminar, Video

Between Magic & Camouflage: Dressing up your Poems Studio

£100.00 *

Tutor: Sue Burge

Between Magic & Camouflage: Dressing up your Poems Studio

Unpicking the threads; explore your writing wardrobe and dress up your poems with Sue Burge.

Start Date: June 15, 2026
End Date: July 13, 2026 ( 29 Days )
Type: Online

Every Love Story Needs to be Told Twice: Dante’s Vita Nuova Studio

Sold Out!

Tutor: Stav Poleg

Every Love Story Needs to be Told Twice: Dante’s Vita Nuova Studio

Create poetry inspired by the beautifully intense world of Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece of love, passion, and loss: the Vita Nuova.

Start Date: June 16, 2026
End Date: July 13, 2026 ( 28 Days )
Type: Online

Occupations and Interruptions - Developing Poetry Workshops for Carers

£5.00 *

Tutor: Sarah Hesketh Dinah Roe

Occupations and Interruptions - Developing Poetry Workshops for Carers

In this special training session, explore the theories and practicalities of delivering poetry workshops for carers.

Start Date: July 1, 2026 9.30am
End Date: July 3, 2026 ( 3 Days )
Type: In-person

First Steps: Finding Inspiration with Isabelle Baafi – July 2026

£45.00 *

Tutor: Isabelle Baafi

First Steps: Finding Inspiration with Isabelle Baafi – July 2026

Start your poetic journey with this interactive, beginner-friendly workshop with poet, critic and tutor, Isabelle Baafi.

Start Date: July 14, 2026
End Date: July 14, 2026 ( 1 Day )
Type: Video

First Steps: A Closer Look with Isabelle Baafi – August 2026

£45.00 *

Tutor: Isabelle Baafi

First Steps: A Closer Look with Isabelle Baafi – August 2026

Turn everyday details into striking poems in this beginner-friendly workshop exploring voice, perspective, and creative ways into writing.

Start Date: August 11, 2026
End Date: August 11, 2026 ( 1 Day )
Type: Video

First Steps: Finding Inspiration with Isabelle Baafi – September 2026

£45.00 *

Tutor: Isabelle Baafi

First Steps: Finding Inspiration with Isabelle Baafi – September 2026

Start your poetic journey with this interactive, beginner-friendly workshop with poet, critic and tutor, Isabelle Baafi.

Start Date: September 8, 2026
End Date: September 8, 2026 ( 1 Day )
Type: Video

£135.00 *

Tutor: Zena Edwards

Fragility of the Gods

A Mythopoetic course exploring Archetypal Gods as inspiration for your own poems!

Start Date: October 5, 2026
End Date: December 14, 2026 ( 71 Days )
Type: Online

First Steps: A Closer Look with Isabelle Baafi – October 2026

£45.00 *

Tutor: Isabelle Baafi

First Steps: A Closer Look with Isabelle Baafi – October 2026

Turn everyday details into striking poems in this beginner-friendly workshop exploring voice, perspective, and creative ways into writing.

Start Date: October 13, 2026
End Date: October 13, 2026 ( 1 Day )
Type: Video

First Steps: Finding Inspiration with Isabelle Baafi – November 2026

£45.00 *

Tutor: Isabelle Baafi

First Steps: Finding Inspiration with Isabelle Baafi – November 2026

Start your poetic journey with this interactive, beginner-friendly workshop with poet, critic and tutor, Isabelle Baafi.

Start Date: November 10, 2026
End Date: November 10, 2026 ( 1 Day )
Type: Video

First Steps: A Closer Look with Isabelle Baafi – December 2026

£45.00 *

Tutor: Isabelle Baafi

First Steps: A Closer Look with Isabelle Baafi – December 2026

Turn everyday details into striking poems in this beginner-friendly workshop exploring voice, perspective, and creative ways into writing.

Start Date: December 8, 2026
End Date: December 8, 2026 ( 1 Day )
Type: Video

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How it works

The Poetry School’s teaching year runs over three ‘terms’ – Autumn, Spring and Summer. Each term we offer around 40-50 courses and workshops that cater to a variety of levels, varying in length and subject matter. The course programme changes every term with more new courses, workshops and tutors, but often includes courses that run over three terms and popular repeats.

We offer both ‘classroom’ teaching (UK) and ‘virtual’ teaching (international). You can visit our In-Person Courses, Video Courses and Online Courses pages for more detailed information about course structures, process and what to expect.

Finding the right Course

Most of our courses and workshops accommodate writers with a wide range of experience, but some are specifically designed for beginners or more practicised poets.

Here are our definitions:

Beginner – Learning the ropes: beginning to write poetry.
Intermediate – Starting to develop your voice, generate more work and grow confident on the page.
Advanced – Able to confidently edit, hone, discuss and critique your poetry.

Our programme is developed around these three teaching levels, although we also offer many courses that are Open to all – courses aimed at all levels, often focusing on a specific theme or inspirational subject matter.

FAQ

How many courses can I take?

To ensure the best experience, we recommend taking no more than two courses per term. If you are interested in signing up to more, please email us at [email protected] to discuss the different course schedules.

What is poetry?

There is no one answer, and many, many people have their own ideas. Here are some definitions we like:

‘Literary work in which the expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity by the use of distinctive style and rhythm’ – OED

‘Poetry is a heightened imagistic use of language that does things to the heart and head’ – Grace Nichols

‘A made thing, a verbal construct, an event in language’ – Edward Hirsch

‘Poetry is memorable speech’ – W H Auden

‘Poetry does not explain life. It gives life to feeling and seeing’ – Sarah Stetie

‘Why, Sir, it is much easier to say what it is not’ – Samuel Johnson

I’m already publishing and performing poetry – what can you do to help me?

We have an expanding programme of projects and activities which seek to address the continuing professional development needs of practising poets, from residencies to enhanced publishing, editing and performance opportunities and beyond. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest details.

Will the Poetry School help me become a poet?

Since 1997, when the Poetry School was founded, our students have gone on to publish in magazines and online; they've produced pamphlets and books as poets and editors with publishers from the smallest independents to the largest commercial houses; they've won multiple prizes and awards; they've become poetry tutors themselves; they've moved on to take poetry MAs and PhDs.; they’ve set up performance nights, magazines, shows and events. While we can't guarantee that all students will go on to get published; serious engagement with the art and craft of poetry in the company of tutors and fellow students who are as passionate about the form as you are can only ever improve your chances of getting your work out to a wider audience.

Join us in reading, writing, editing and translating poetry, in year-long courses, short courses, workshops, one-day sessions, seminars, tutorials and every variety of learning in between – in our classrooms, off site and online.

All our Courses

Find a Course

How it works

Finding the right Course

FAQ

How many courses can I take?

What is poetry?

I’m already publishing and performing poetry – what can you do to help me?

Will the Poetry School help me become a poet?